As Election Day nears, here are some key dates for the Texas midterm elections.

Eleanor Dearman, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

AUSTIN – On the start of early voting for the Nov. 6 midterm elections, some glimmer of hope is shining through that Texas might claw its way out of the cellar when it comes to ballot-box participation.

According to the latest available figures, at least 1.6 million Texans have added their names to the voter registration since the 2014 midterms, bringing the total of registered voters in the state to 15.6 million. But if Texas is to lose its status as being the most apathetic collection of voters in the nation, it will have to do better than it did four years ago.

U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, left, faces U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in debate at the KENS 5 Studios in San Antonio on October 16, 2018.

Tom Reel, Staff photographer

In November 2014, when the biggest draw on the ballot was the matchup between Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Wendy Davis in the governor’s race, fewer than 4.8 million of the 14 million registered voters found their way to the local polling place.

That’s a scant 33.7 percent.

The question now becomes, how many of the newly registered voters will actually show up, either during the early voting period now through Nov. 2, or on Election Day, Nov. 6? Bryan Eppstein, a longtime political strategist and insider, said the rule of thumb for a Texas midterm election is that four in 10 who sign up to vote, actually turn out to vote.

It's a little better in presidential years when more citizens pay attention, Eppstein said.

Still, there’s anecdotal evidence that 2018 might be more than an ordinary midterm. Unlike four years ago, when Abbott and Davis were scrapping to fill a soon-to-be vacant governor’s mansion, this year’s governor’s race between Abbott and former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez has been a bit of a snore.

The real action is at that very top of the ticket: The competitive and very expensive race for U.S. Senate between Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke and incumbent Republican Ted Cruz. O’Rourke, a three-term congressman from El Paso, has gained national attention. O'Rourke has been criss-crossing Texas for a year-and-a-half trying to wake sleepy and defeat-numb Democrats who are either fed up with Cruz or mouth-foaming mad at President Donald Trump – or both.

Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, left, and U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, are battling in Texas for a U.S. Senate seat.

Casey Jackson/Caller-Times

Cruz for about as long, has essentially been saying O’Rourke is on to something. Ever since the mass marches across the country the day after Trump was inaugurated in January 2017, Cruz has warned that Texas Democrats with or without a history of activism are going to crawl across broken glass or dance across smoldering coals to cast their ballot this year.

INTEREST UP IN 2018 ELECTIONS

And there’s evidence, with just two weeks and change before voting ends, Cruz still believes it.

There is huge anticipation for Trump’s rally on Cruz behalf, that happens Monday evening in Houston. When the event was announced, Democrats snickered that instead of the president’s promise that he’d fill the biggest stadium in Texas, he booked the 10,000-seat NRG arena that is home to the local livestock show.

There is huge anticipation for President Trump’s rally on Ted Cruz's behalf. It's set for Monday ...more

There is huge anticipation for President Trump’s rally on Ted Cruz's behalf. It's set for Monday evening in Houston.

(Photo: Pedro Portal, AP)

But later, Trump and Co. had to upgrade to meet the high demand. The event is now slated for the 18,000-seat Toyota Center that’s home to the Houston Rockets. Not Texas’ biggest stadium, by any means, but is it bigger than a cattle venue.

Cruz is also getting a little help from other big-name Republicans. Heading into the weekend, his campaign announced that Abbott and former Gov. Rick Perry would be joining him on the trail. Both are proven vote-getters in their own rights. Abbott has won no fewer than five statewide races dating back to 1996.

Perry, now Trump’s energy secretary, has won six, including a record three terms as Texas governor.

TOO LATE TO REGISTER, NOT TOO LATE TO PARTICIPATE

None of this guarantees high voter turnout. But there is one other piece of evidence suggesting higher than normal interest for a midterm. Texans are still Googling to see whether there’s still time to register before Election Day.

Short answer: No. The deadline was Oct. 9.

Longer answer: You don’t have to let that interest atrophy. You can still volunteer for the campaign of your choice.

Plus, partisan elections are held every other November, and all are preceded by March primaries. Local elections, in many cities, towns and school districts across Texas, are held every May.

Plenty of time to register and vote in all them.

John C. Moritz covers Texas government and politics for the USA Today Network in Austin. Contact him at John.Moritz@caller.com and follow him on Twitter @JohnnieMo.